This project includes nearly 500 people, both deceased and living authored by over 150 authors. Each entry will follows the Iowa Biographical Dictionary model, and includes the following information: name, date of birth/death, quick facts, education, career and contribution to Iowa State. Each essay, ranging in length from 750-1000 words, summarizes the life of the subject and describe their most significant contributions as a part of the Iowa State University family. A brief listing of primary and/or secondary sources accompanies each essay. This biographical dictionary will also include Iowa State-related biographies published in the Iowa Biographical Dictionary and Iowan’s Who Have Made a Difference, although some may be amended to pertain more to the Iowa State impact of the individual. Photographs and portraits of selected individuals and/or their contribution are included, as determined by availability.
The basic criteria for determining who was considered:
Faculty or staff member where the individual gained statewide, national, or international prominence.
A former student or alumnus recognizable as an Iowa Stater who gained statewide, national, or international prominence.
Faculty or staff member, or student, alumnus, or public figure with a long-term and significant impact on Iowa State’s cultural heritage.
Biographical entries are created by volunteer authors from a selected pool of writers, professionals working in the field of history, and graduate students.
Disclaimer
Periodically, over 200 additional entries will be added as edited from a currently established list created by the selection committee.
The selection committee strived to represent a vast cross section of Iowa State, however we recognize that there are so many more influential individuals that have impacted the 160 years of our University. Suggestions for additional entries are not being entertained at this time.
Since this project began in 2013 and stretched over eight years, some information may by out of date. All life dates are current as of the August 1, 2021 initial publication of this digital material. To suggest an edit or correction to an existing entry, please email editor Allison Sheridan at [email protected].
